Unacceptable Levels (Film) Premieres at the US Capitol Building inWashington, DC

Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton discusses the "Unacceptable Levels" film with creator Ed Brown regarding the chemical levels in our natural water supply. Ideal PR Media attended the premiere where actress Fran Drescher attended in support to raise her voice and concerns regarding the topic as a cancer survivor. Take a look at Valeta's discussion with Mr. Brown about the development and meaning of this project in the below video



A very special thanks to Ed Brown and Kimberly Ecker at Jo Chicago for making this happen.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney x Goop Collection

The latest addition to the collaboration, sparked from the close personal friendship between the designer and goop founder, Gwyneth Paltrow, is an exclusive long-sleeve chalk white dress. The style is an elegant slim fit through the waist, dropping into a flattering flare, with subtle invisible zips at the wrists. The perfect standout piece for the party season.

In addition, goop has picked 2 styles of the designer’s newly introduced Beckett handbag in black, grey and the newly introduced ivory. The faux leather bags and clutches are the must-have item for the season.

The exclusive pieces within the Stella McCartney x goop capsule also include a charcoal grey knit all-in-one, a classic black blazer, a black jean and black wool trousers.

The Stella x goop capsule is available to buy on goop.com, with the exclusive pieces only available for a limited time, shipping to over 15 countries.

Monique Monte Will Captivate DC With Her Wearable Art on October 31, 2013 in Washington, DC

Wearable Art Piece by Monique Monte

Artist and Stylist Monique Monte

Monique Monte' is an artist and fashion designer that currently resides in Washington DC. She studied Art and fashion at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Hong Kong Polytechnic and Francis De La Mode in Paris. She focuses on sculpture and "wearable art". Her wearable art is all handmade using common household items. Her designs are all original and she teams up with local photographers to document her work. Many describe her work as “captivating” and “highly unconventional”

While Monique has styled the best of them, she is both a stylist and a fine artist, as demonstrated by her "Wearable Art" collection. Ideal PR Media had the pleasure of discussing this amazing gift with her. "I'd say that I am an Artist first. Even when I was mostly focused on styling I was constantly "recreating" clothes and adding unconventional items to them," said Monique about being a stylist or artist first.

Wearable art piece by Monique Monte using dyed cotton swabs

"I'm actually a trained artist so I paint and build sculptures. Building is my strong suit. I went to The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and studied in Hong Kong and Paris. I was exposed to a whole different level of fashion especially in Paris (seeing Haute Couture). After I styled for a while, I honestly got a bit bored and kept finding myself taking clothes apart and putting them together again. One day I went full force and decided to do an entire collection and used anything I could find to make it unique. From then on I mastered the technique of Household Haute Couture (she smiled). Just goes to show its not how much you spend it's how you put it together that counts," Monique shared.

Soon the art junkies, culture fanatics, lovers of exotic displays, and the who's who in the collectors world will have the opportunity to see Monique's wearable art, but also other pieces of her fine art collection. "My latest collection is a part of a theme called Utsukushii Akumu (Japanese) or Beautiful Nightmare (English). I will be showcasing about 4 or 5 wearable art pieces in a live sculpture garden exhibit," explained Monique

"The pieces will be worn by Asian models that are mythical characters that appear in your dreams. I will also be showcasing paintings and sculptures that are also related to the beautiful nightmare theme. There will be reprints of my work for sale to the public. There are certain paintings that will be auctioned off for charity," stated Monique about the nearly sold out event that will take place on Thursday October 31, 2013 at the Renaissance Hotel (999 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC) from 7:00-9:30 pm. While tickets are still available (CLICK HERE For Tickets), we are sure they won't last long! DC has never seen anything like this, so those in-the-know, and true lovers of fine art are sure to gather in packs.

Monique at a recent event celebrating her work

When we asked Monique to share with us a couple of her memorable experiences as a stylist, she was more than candid. "Well the most fabulous experience was my first experience. I was in my early 20's and I had to style 3 models at once. I was kind of thrown into it. I was told it would be one girl. Anyway I stepped up to the plate and once my nerves calmed down I felt so comfortable and at ease and thought to myself "this is what I was born to do," explained Monique.

"The other was actually working with the ladies from Dress for Success (a non profit that helps disadvantage women find clothes to re-enter the workforce). Seeing the joy I brought to the ladies faces when I introduced myself as a professional wardrobe stylist was priceless. They felt like royalty and I was more than happy to go above and beyond making sure they looked their best for their new careers. Their excitement and gratitude made me feel like a million bucks," she said describing another fabulous experience.

Be sure to check out Monique Monte and her work by attending this fabulous event on Halloween  October 31, 2013 (see event flier below...click the flier for more info). Her work will soon be showcased in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC starting in November 2013.

A very special thanks to Tim Waters, Monique Monte and their team for making this interview happen

RALPH LAUREN HELPS RESTORE PARIS’S ICONIC ECOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS, HOME OF RENOIR & DEGAS

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NUSE: RL) pledges its commitment to help restore the elite Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, one of the world’s oldest and most influential, and most beautiful art schools

Founded in 1648, the school has been a breeding ground for exceptional artistic talent ever since, with illustrious alumni including Renoir, Degas, Monet and Matisse.

Ralph Lauren will dedicate funding for a two-year project that will oversee the restoration and modernisation of the listed building, as part of a broader Beaux-Arts preservation campaign.

In keeping with brining the institution’s teaching capabilities into the 21^stcentury, while also

preserving the classical Beaux-Arts style for future generations, Ralph Lauren will be

restoring the Amphiteatre d’honneur, the semi-circular lecture theatre at the heart of the school.  The theatre will be fully updated to include state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and improve stadium seating.

Money will also be used to modernize the school’s website with a series of digital content

providing global audiences with access to a multitude of conferences, workshops,

symposiums and new online classes, placing the institution at the forefront

of the contemporary art world.

The corporation has a rich connection with French heritage and a long standing commitment

to philanthropy with a love of Paris. To celebrate the patron sponsorship, the brand will host

an exclusive gala dinner in the  picturesque courtyard surrounding the L’Ecole des Beaux

Arts in the coming weeks. The event will also feature a special presentation of the Ralph

Lauren Fall 2013 Collection, the first time the designer has showcased outside of the US.

A very special thanks to Jessica Costanza for making this post possible.

$500m of stunning jewels used in celebration of Laurence Graff’s 60th anniversary as diamantaire

In 1970, world renowned diamantaire Laurence Graff OBE created Hair & Jewel – an ornate coiffure comprising one million dollars of diamonds and precious gems.

To mark the success of Graff Diamonds globally and to celebrate Laurence Graff’s 60th anniversary, they have recreated the famous Hair & Jewel in celebration –featuring 22 extremely rare and unique jewels with a value of half a billion dollars. 

Incorporated into the recreation are a number of record breaking diamonds that have been cut and polished by Graff, namely the Graff Sweethearts; a magnificent pair of earrings featuring 51.53ct and 50.76ct D colour Flawless type IIA heart shape diamonds; and a selection of jewellery crafted from the 550ct Letšeng Star, the 14th largest white rough diamond ever discovered.

It is more than 40 years since the original image of Hair & Jewel was captured. The recreation marks an important milestone in Graff Diamonds’ history and coincides with the opening of its 40th store globally.

For further information, please visit www.graffdiamonds.com

Socially conscious jewelry line partners to add sparkle to new product lineup

31 Bits is teaming up with renowned blogger Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam to introduce the limited edition holiday collection. “Give With Glam” pieces use beads rolled out of recycled paper, coated in holiday shades of glitter, to exude dazzling holiday flair. 

“This is the first time ever that we incorporate glitter in our products,” said 31 Bits founder, Jessie Simonson. “Not only is it a new and risky design venture for us, but it is also a way to further share our story. ‘Give With Glam’ epitomizes our company’s purpose – changing lives through fashion.” 

31 Bits teaches women in Uganda how to make jewelry out of 100 percent recycled paper. The final pieces are then purchased from each woman on a monthly basis, providing them with an immediate, consistent and fair income. 31 Bits has been featured in Cosmopolitan, People, InTouch, Bazaar and many more. Celebrities such as Guiliana Rancic, Jessica Alba and Kathy Lee Gifford wear 31 Bits. 

Special thanks to Alli Swanson of 31 Bits for making this post possible!

M'Squared Fashunz Clothing at DC Fashion Week 2013 (Video Inside)

M'Squared Clothing (image courtesy of Areej Fashions)

M'Squared Fashunz Clothing rocks! Presented at the Haute and Modesty Fashion show during  2013 Fall DC Fashion Week, Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton spoke with the designer, Munazza about their fashions on the runway. Check out the runway show and interview below.

She can be found on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/msquared.fashunz

***A very special thanks to Ean Williams and Areej Fashions***

If You Have Never Tried Charred Octopus You Are Missing Out

I am not one for trying outlandish things...and to me octopus was a little over the edge. But I am glad I had the opportunity to try it at Ulah Bistro on U Street NW near 12th in Washington, DC. I participated in the Battle Dish presented by Dish Crawl DC and this was on of the dishes presented by the 6 participating chefs. I will probably only eat it here at this restaurant because I know the quality and taste is amazing. If you are ever in the area or in the mood be sure to try them out. This was by far my favorite dish of the Battle. It was prepared by chef Orlando Amaro along with Cannellini beans, olives and caper emulsion which was out of this world. The restaurant has a great atmosphere with two levels and two full size bars that are equally nice.

Las Vegas: Douglas, De Niro, Freeman and Kline Style (Film out in November)

Starring four legends like you've never seen them before, LAST VEGAS tells the story of Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam (played by Academy-Award winners Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline), best friends since childhood. When Billy, the group's sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something (of course) girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined.  The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it's these four who are taking over Vegas.

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Written by: Dan Fogelman & Adam Brooks

Cast: Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman & Kevin Kline

Genre: Comedy

Distributor: CBS Films

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LAST VEGAS opens in theaters on Friday, November 1, 2013! ---------------------------------------- Official Website: http://lastvegasmovie.com/

A special thanks to Erica for making this post/content possible.

Happy Birthday Hassan Iniko Johnson (October 3rd)

Ideal PR Media had the pleasure of work with actor Hassan Iniko Johnson for years when we offered PR services (2002-2009). Most know his work as Wee-Bey on HBO's The Wire or for his character in Belly (one of his first movies) or in Brooklyn's Finest (one of his more recent movies). Which ever way you know Hassan, we are sure you love him and his talents. Hassan's birthday is October 3rd...he is a Libra and we want to send him a very special birthday wish as he celebrates in New York today. Many well wishes from your Ideal PR Media family!

Hassan Johnson in the 10 Year Anniversary Tribute to The Wire as seen in The IDEAL Magazine Winter 2011

PS...whoever put it out there that his birthday is in November is wrong...homie is a Libra through and true.

Actors Hassan Johnson and Tarji P Henson 

The Stars of The Best Man 2 Cover Ebony Magazine

Ebony Magazine is a longtime favorite for most households of color and diversity. They have pleased us twice by giving us a double cover for the November 2013 issue...one for the ladies...and one for the men. Both covers are fabulous and the cast of The Best Man Holiday looks amazing.

The November issue features several hot topics, one including what Black men find sexy! When Morris Chestnut was asked about the upcoming film and his stellar cast members, he stated, “There is a desire to see these types of images on screen.” 

The ladies had plenty to say as well. One of our all-time favorites from the movie Melissa DeSousa gave up a little juicy gossip about the movie,     “In this film, secrets come out, and it’s scary.  There’s also a sad surprise that makes my stomach hurt thinking about it.”  While we don't want to know too many juicy secrets, because we want to be surprised, we are happy that Nia Long shared how the movie almost didn't happen,  “We had to do a reading for the studio in the hopes they would green-light the movie....We lobbied for this.”  And we all thank you for doing so! We are looking forward to seeing how the twists and turns of the cast develop and wonder what will the time lapse be in the film...a few years later, or real time of 10+ years (The Best Man released in 1999)? Either way, we know everyone will be standing in line to get their tickets come November 15, 2013. If you have not seen the trailer, be sure to check it out below and make sure to go buy a copy of BOTH covers of Ebony Magazine.

A special thanks to Vanessa at Johnson's Publishing for making this post happen.